Alfred is pruning the fruit trees at Wayne Manor when teenager Duke Thomas arrives.
Bruce is in Gotham, dealing with the latest plot by Calendar Man Julian Day - he releases spores which could spell doom for the city of Batman doesn't kill them. He does, in spectacular style, but once Day is behind bars he realises that his plot continues. Can Duke help Bruce and Alfred foil the scheme?
If you're thinking that Duke from the We Are Robin series is about to become an official teen wonder, think again.
What those plans are, we don't find out here, but they do involve wearing tight yellow leathers. Honestly, I've never gone with the 'homosexual wish dream' idea of Batman and Robin, but the Caped Crusader really does seem addicted to surrounding himself with fit young men.
Please Alfred, don't wink.
I like Duke well enough, and yeah, diversity, but I'd love Bruce to help him by offering him a Wayne Foundation grant to fund his college studies. Let Duke forge a path out of Batman's shadow - heck, this level-headed lad would be fantastic as a foil to Damian Wayne in Teen Titans. Then there'd be room for Tim Drake to be by Batman's side once more, divorced from his grumpy Flashpoint ways.
This is Tom King's first outing as Batman writer, teaming with the outgoing Scott Snyder, and it bodes well for his run. There's a running theme about who's crazy, but while Bruce is super-focused here, he's not a loon. There's a great scene with WayneTech chief Lucius Fox tying up an old plot thread, and as for Calendar Man, whew! There's a crazy logical new take which sets him up as a Solomon Grundy type, one which could propel him out of C-lister land and to the forefront of Bat-villainy.
It may be linked to the presence of Calendar Man and Lucius Fox, but the tone takes me right back to one of my favourite periods of Batman, the Len Wein run, which featured the likes of this Walt Simonson-drawn tale.
Joining King is his Grayson collaborator Mikel Janín and colourist June Chung and the art is simply sumptuous - the people look terrific, the panel shapes are wild without hampering the storytelling, the tones are spot-on... a Batcave spread has 'suitable for framing' written all over it. Letterer Deron Bennett is a new name to me, and as well as his neatness, he uses John Workman-style super-circular balloons and it looks great. Everything feels freshened.
And that's pretty impressive, given Batman has already had his Rebirth, when Snyder had him literally reborn after a struggle with the Joker. His body is younger, unscarred, and mentally he's in a better place. King looks to be embracing this new status, looking back to the past while adding to the legend of the Batman.
Local comic book store ran out of this issue and were almost out of the Superman issue.
ReplyDeleteOh heck, sorry to hear it. Hope you found a copy somewhere, Paul.
DeleteI like that Bruce had that ready, that he had the measurements so that that tight fitting costume would fit properly.
ReplyDeleteOf course, he would be surrounded by fit young men, as it took him years to hone his body and skills, so it will take them time to get where he is. If they weren't fit, they wouldn't do well with all the villains out there. Plus, it may seem weird if a heterosexual man in his position were to take on young women and orphan girls. Especially if he let on that they'd be training with him nearly naked, and getting sweaty. Really, he's also in constant contact with his Man's Man, Alfred, who does everything for his Master, and for the most part has been depicted as neither young nor fit. I just don't know how someone could even entertain the thought of Batman being anything than a nice young man that is being unfairly given only male wards just because he's sexy hot and known to be a heart breaker. Plus, there was that one young woman who got pregnant and had been thought dead, which no one really talks about anymore.
You are so right, I have a filthy mind and I apologise profusely!
DeleteI expect Bruce has leather outfits for all shapes and sizes.
You're forgiven! Just don't let it happen again. Actually, please continue it. It is nice to be in similar company. :P
DeleteJust leather? Or some other material as well, like PVC or lace? :P
I might sample Batman for the first time since the early days of the New 52 began. My favorite Batman was pre-Crisis before Denny O'Neil insisted everyone write him like a deranged loon who hated even his allies. I know a Batman who is psychologically healthy doesn't sell (or this one has sold so well for so long they won't try) but King's appears to be closer than I've seen in decades.
ReplyDeleteThe Denny O'Neil period was when they lost me as a regular reader, for the same reasons. And all that stupid urban legend stuff. And Gotham being abandoned after No Man's Land... honestly, I found it all so depressing after the fun melodrama of the Conway/Moench/Colan/Newton years.
DeleteI like the set-up, and the whole thing was told with great style. (Loved the rooftop workout scene, and especially Lucius's exit line!) I think I'm a bit Batman'd out, but I'm very curious about the plans for Duke. I'll check out Detective next week to see where that's at, but I'm planning on just a one-issue visit there, too. But that's no fault of the creators, who as you say are doing really nice work here.
ReplyDeleteI'm dubious about Detective. - Clayface can be reformed? Isn't he a killer? Ah well, I'm at least intrigued.
DeleteClayface being good might have to do with that horrible Gotham Academy book and his appearances there. I think. That book tends to lose my interest partway through an issue...
DeleteI can't wait for the workout scene with Clayface. ;)
DeleteI think that was an episode of CSI...
DeleteThat would be quite an episode.
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